December 2019

“Celebrating Age and Maturity”

Heavenly Peace Carmel Community Faithfully Tends a Sacred Refuge

Also Inside Don’t Let That Family Gathering Overwhelm You Stay Healthy This Winter What can you get

for $1,563 a month? • One-bedroom apartment • Convenient parking outside the door • Delicious daily lunch with multiple choices • Free transportation to shopping, appointments • Variety of free entertainment, educational, health, spiritual and religious programs from which to choose • Wonderful friends to share your life • Beautiful, secure gated campus And, most important, peace of mind. Don’t wait until you need a nursing home to free yourself of the burden of a large home. Continue to live independently. Take charge of the decision and make a move on your terms. Larger apartment homes and additional amenities are also available. Visit our website, oaksofla.com, or call to speak with a leasing specialist, (318) 212-OAKS (6257). Live here and love it!

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2 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com Inside this Issue Briefs 6 Stat! Medical News & Info 8 Odds & Ends 28 Our Favorite 5 30 Snapshot Sleuth Caretakers Vance Shaver, Mary 32 Shreveport Then Lafitte, and Sandra Prudhomme & Now

Features Advice 24 Heavenly Peace: Carmel Community Faithfully Tends a Sacred Refuge 10 From the Bench by Kathleen Ward A Christmas Memory by Judge Jeff Cox 22 Oregon: Varied Landscapes, Unique History, Beautiful Art, and a Laissez-Faire Lifestyle 12 Counseling Corner by Victor Block Don't Let That Family Gathering Overwhelm You by American Counseling Association Columns 18 Page by Page 14 Eat Well Live Well Review of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern Stay Healthy This Winter by Jessica Rinaudo by Abigail McAlister 20 Tinseltown Talks 16 Laws of the Land A Lassie Christmas with Jon Provost Lock Them Up! by Nick Thomas by Lee Aronson

In Every Issue 34 What's Cooking 36 Our Famous Puzzle Pages 38 Save the Date 43 Parting Shots

The Best Of Times December 2019 3 The Best of Times December 2019 l Vol. 28, No. 12 Radio Hour Founded 1992 as Senior Scene News ISSN Library of Congress Hosted by Gary Calligas #1551-4366 A monthly publication from: TBT Multimedia, LLC P.O. Box 19510 Proudly Presented by: Shreveport, LA 71149 (318) 636-5510 www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com Publisher www.hebertstandc.com Gary L. Calligas [email protected] DECEMBER 7 DECEMBER 21 Editor 2019 Independence Bowl Latest on Arthritis and Tina Miaoulis Calligas Game Treatments [email protected] Erik Evenson Robert Goodman, MD Design Karen Peters, Jessica Rinaudo Chrissie Combs DECEMBER 14 DECEMBER 28 National Medal of Honor Fire Prevention and Fire Account Executive Museum Safety Patrick Kirsop [email protected] Joe Daniels, President of the Representatives from the National Medal of Honor Museum Shreveport Fire Department Webmaster Dr. Jason P. Calligas Writers Broadcasting every Saturday morning 9:05 to 10 a.m. on News Kathleen Ward Radio 710 KEEL, a Townsquare Media radio station in Shreveport. Contributors American Counseling Association, Lee Aronson,Victor Block, Streaming live on the internet at www.710KEEL.com Judge Jeff Cox, LSU-S Library, and on Radio Pup App Abigail McAlister, Jessica Rinaudo, Nick Thomas, Also broadcasting live on 101.7 FM Twin Blends Photography Archived programs at www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com and THE FINE PRINT: All original content published on APPLE Podcasts at The Best of Times Radio Hour in THE BEST OF TIMES copyright © 2019 by TBT Multimedia, LLC, all rights reserved. Replication, in whole or in part by any means is prohibited without prior written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication, TBT Mulitmedia, its publishers or staff. Always con- sult properly degreed and licensed profession- als when dealing with financial, medical, legal or emotional matters. We cannot accept liability for omissions or errors and cannot be responsible for the claims of advertisers.

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The Best Of Times December 2019 5 Stat! Medical News & Info Slow Walkers at Age 45 Have Older Brains and Bodies High Fiber, Yogurt Diet Associated The walking speed of 45-year-olds, particularly their fastest with Lower Lung Cancer Risk walking speed without running, can be used as a marker of A diet high in fiber and yogurt is associated with a reduced their aging brains and bodies. Slower walkers were shown to risk for lung cancer, according to a study by Vanderbilt have “accelerated aging” on a 19-measure scale devised by re- University Medical Center researchers published in JAMA searchers, and their lungs, teeth and immune systems tended Oncology. Participants were divided into five groups, accord- to be in worse shape than the people who walked faster. Prior ing to the amount of fiber and yogurt they consumed. Those studies show that slow walkers in their seventies and eighties with the highest yogurt and tend to die sooner than fast walkers their same age. fiber consumption had a 33% reduced Baby Aspirin Improves Overall lung cancer risk Survival for Patients With Head as compared & Neck, Lung Cancer to the Doctors from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center group who report new evidence that low-dose aspirin and other anti- did not inflammatories may improve survival in patients undergoing consume treatment for some head/neck and lung cancers. yogurt The retrospective analyses are among and con- the first to suggest a benefit in sumed the overall survival for patients least amount with either head and neck of fiber. squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) or early- Short-term stage non-small cell lung cancer Probiotics Regimen (NSCLC) who received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs May Help Treat Gout, Kidney Disease (NSAIDs) — most commonly, low-dose aspirin — alongside New research suggests that an individualized probiotic standard radiation therapy or chemoradiation therapy. therapy regimen may improve symptoms of gout, gout-related kidney disease and other signs of metabolic syndrome. Gout Excess Body Fat is a form of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid crys- tals around the joints. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts Increases the Risk that replenish “good” bacteria in the digestive tract. Yogurt, Of Depression fermented foods and certain dietary supplements contain Carrying ten kilograms (22 pounds) probiotics. Past research suggests that probiotics decrease of excess body fat increases the risk inflammation in the body and improve poor sugar and uric of depression by 17%. The more fat, acid metabolism that contribute to the development of gout. the greater the probability of developing depression. This is After 10 days of probiotic therapy, the volunteers’ experienced the main conclusion of a new study carried out by research- lower blood pressure, weight loss, reduced abdominal fat and ers from Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. The study waist circumference, decreased lesion size and scar tissue on also indicated that the location of the fat on the body makes the kidneys, decreased tophi size, and normal uric acid and no difference to the risk of depression. This suggests that it is creatinine levels in the blood. People with gout may be able to the psychological consequences of being overweight or obese achieve the same results by eating yogurt or taking an over- which leads to the increased risk of depression, and not the the-counter probiotic supplement. direct biological effect of the fat.

6 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com Cataract Surgery Can Make You 48 Percent Safer on the Road The ability of cataract surgery to restore sight is well known. People say they’re stunned by the vibrancy of color after surgery and the improvement in night vision. Some can even reduce their reliance on glasses. But can you quantify that improved quality of vision? To find out, re- searchers in Australia used a driving simulator to test patients’ vision before and after cataract surgery. They found that near misses and crashes decreased by 48 percent after surgery.

Poll Reveals Risky Use Of Antibiotics By Some Older Adults Half of older Americans got help from the infection-fight- ing power of antibiotics in the past two years, a new poll by the National Poll on Healthy Aging finds, but a sizable mi- nority didn’t follow the instructions on their pill bottle. And one in five say that in the past, they’ve taken leftover antibiot- ics without checking with a medical professional. Meanwhile, two in five said they expect their doctors to prescribe them antibiotics for a cold that lasts long enough to send them to a doctor– even though the drugs don’t work on colds and other illnesses caused by viruses. Despite these practices and expectations, 89% of adults aged 50 to 80 who responded to the poll understood that overuse of antibiotics could mean the drugs won’t work against infections in the future.

Dog Ownership Associated With Longer Life Dog ownership may be associ- ated with longer life and better cardiovascular outcomes, especially for heart attack and stroke survivors who live alone, according to a new study and a separate meta-analysis published by the American Heart Association. The findings build upon prior conclusions that dog ownership alleviates social isolation, improves physical activity and even lowers blood pressure that contribute to cardiac risk and to cardiovascular events. While these studies cannot ‘prove’ that adopting or owning a dog directly leads to reduced mortality, the findings are certainly suggestive of this. From an animal welfare perspective, dogs should only be acquired by people who feel they have the capacity and knowledge to give the pet a good life.

The Best Of Times December 2019 7 Odds & Ends

EMPTY NESTERS FINANCIALLY TIED TO THEIR CHILDREN 55places surveyed 1,800 parents whose adult children have left the "nest," and found 40% are still financially supporting them in some capacity. In fact, the average empty nester spends $254 each month on their child. Overall, the majority of empty nesters say they're able to put away more money since their children moved out, but 1 in 4 say retire- ment savings remains the #1 financial stress for them. Survey highlights include: • 38% have had an adult child move back in after moving out • 1 in 4 still pay for their children's cellphones • 1 in 5 still pay for their kids' rent and groceries • 66% experienced "empty nest syndrome" • 63% say they've become closer to their spouse

JONESBORO RESIDENT CELEBRATES 102ND BIRTHDAY Mrs. Gertrude "Maw" Lawrence celebrated her 102nd birthday at Forest Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Jonesboro on Thursday, Oct. 24th. Maw’s tips for a long, healthy life include “a daily teaspoon of honey, Olay firming night cream and don’t spend time worrying about what you can’t do anything about.” She also jokingly states, “All my friends are going to think I died and went to hell because they haven’t seen me in heaven yet.”

THE COSTS OF AGING The National Aging in Place Council has published a new handbook titled "The Costs of Aging" that is available to the public for FREE on the ageinplace.org website. This new tool to help older adults and their families make plans for later life, presents descriptions of the needs of aging and data showing estimated costs of housing and home modification, healthcare and caregiving, personal finance and plan- ning, transportation and social engagement.

8 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com The Best Of Times December 2019 9 From the Bench A Christmas Memory by Judge Jeff Cox ormally, I write about laws that affect people in our community. By the time this article is published, many people Nwill be celebrating Christmas. As I was getting ready to write this article, I was thinking about Christmas and some of the memories from Christmases in the past. I remember when I was young, my family would get together on Christmas Eve. Dad would have spent the day before smoking turkeys and hams. Mom and Dad would make duck and dressing, pecan pies, cakes, and vegetables from the garden that we had canned for the winter. There would always be a big fire glowing in the fireplace. Tables were set and everyone always gathered around to eat too much after Dad prayed. tree, I got usually one of the gifts I asked from Santa. It was a After dinner and dessert, everyone gathered in front of joyous time. After seeing what Santa brought, we usually had the fireplace to open presents. It seemed liked that went on biscuits and smoked ham for breakfast and got to play all day for quite a while as each person took a turn showing they with everyone and the gifts Santa had brought. received. Of course, there were always clothes to be gotten Christmas is about family and the time we get to spend beside the toys. with them. Some in our community do not have family mem- After the gifts were opened, everyone visited for a little bers here anymore. We need to remember them at Christmas. while before the kitchen had to be cleaned. When the dishes A card, call, a visit, taking them a meal and spending some had been done, everyone usually went to bed because they time with them may make all the difference would tell the kids that Santa was coming and he would not in the world. Christmas is a time of shar- show up if they were still awake. We hung our stockings on ing and what a wonderful way to brighten the mantel and headed off to bed. Of course, it was hard to someone’s holiday. sleep waiting for the hours to pass by in the night. To all of you, I want to wish a Very The next morning, I would rush to the tree. Under the tree Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! were things that Santa brought. My stocking was always filled Judge Jeff Cox is judge of the Louisiana Cir- with different kinds of nuts, fruits, and candy. Under the Cox cuit Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit.

10 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com The Best Of Times December 2019 11 Counseling Corner Don't Let That Family Gathering Overwhelm You from the American Counseling Association he holiday season is coming which for many can mean family get-togethers. It would be wonderful if every family Tgathering was a Norman Rockwell-type scene but, unfortunately, most families are a little less than Rockwell perfect. If a big family event is approaching, there's a good chance that while you may be looking for- ward to it, it may also be producing stress and anxiety. There are a number of reasons for such feelings, but there are ways to lessen that stress. One common problem is that you've changed. You're no longer the image of you that parents, siblings and other family members may still carry with them. Some might still see you as that little kid or immature teen and find it hard to recognize how you've grown and matured. When others can't recognize all the

EldEr law attornEy – KylE a. MoorE Call today to sChEdulE an appointMEnt at 318-222-2100 DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE PARENTING YOUR PARENTS? WE KNOW THIS IS A STRESSFUL TIME AND WE KNOW THAT HAVING A PLAN CAN HELP! DECIDING IF THEY CAN STAY AT HOME OR IF THEY NEED TO MOVE TO AN ASSISTED LIVING/NURSING HOME? ASKING THEM TO STOP DRIVING? WONDERING HOW TO PAY FOR THE CARE THEY DESERVE? We are committed to helping seniors, individuals with disabilities, and their families to make informed choices with their long term care. We offer our clients sound legal advice and work with each family to develop an individualized plan to protect their assets from potentially devastating nursing home costs. Whether you are planning for the future or already in the nursing Kyle A. Moore Vickie T. Rech home, we can help your family. Do not make these difficult decisions Client Care Coordinator Certified Medicaid Planner™ alone. Schedule an appointment with us today. Long-Term Care Planning • Medicaid/Veterans Benefits • Estate Planning • Successions wEEMs, sChiMpf, hainEs, shEMwEll & MoorE, aplC 912 Kings highway, shrEvEport, la 71101 | www.wEEMs-law.CoM

12 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com changes that have made you who you are today, it can be annoying. And it can be difficult in a short holiday visit to really communicate much since often the person still underestimating you is more interested in himself or herself than in learning how you're now a different person. Family visits also bring with them family history. There may be old dis- agreements or awkward relationships that now come up again. Past family arguments or misunderstandings may resurface. You can also feel stressed that you haven't met family expectations. Re- cent job problems, financial issues or relationship difficulties can leave you feeling insecure knowing you aren't presenting the image or results that the family had expected of you. So how to deal with all this? Start by recognizing that the stress you're feeling, whatever the source, is a very normal reaction. Next, identify what about that family gathering is making you feel anxious, then plan ways to avoid those anxiety-producing issues. Are there certain situations or people that you want to avoid? Maybe you simply have to accept that you won't A Traditional be having a wonderful time with Neighborhood Development Happy Holidays! everyone there. Instead, try to seek out people and situations that will make your visit Join Us for New Year’s Day Fireworks 5 - 8 pm more enjoyable. Don't bring up old problems or current issues you'd prefer kept quiet. Your goal is to make the visit as pleasant and stress-free as possible. And if such a goal seems impossible, consider making the visit shorter or avoiding it all together. Some issues simply may not be fixable. Don't let old problems ruin the holiday enjoy- ment for the current you.

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The Best Of Times December 2019 13 Eat Well Live Well Stay Healthy This Winter by Abigail McAlister he winter months are full of fun and excitement, but they also bring the perils of viruses, holiday stress, weight gain, arthritis pain, and sometimes even a case ofT the winter blues. While some seasonal health issues are simply unavoidable, it’s still important to keep a solid wellness routine to stay healthy and give our bodies a fighting chance during these chilly months. Keeping a physical activity routine is important for our health year-round - it helps maintain bone density and muscle mass, lowers our risk for heart disease, prevents cognitive de- cline, and reduces our risk for falls. Physical activity can even help alleviate arthritis pain by lubricating our joints. Regular exercise helps us feel less stressed, anxious, and it may even help ease some seasonal blues. Dreary winter days can quickly become our excuse to avoid exercising, but there are still several ways we can exercise de- spite the changes in weather and daylight hours. If the weather is too harsh to walk around your neighborhood, try mall walk- ing or finding a home workout video that suits your needs. Active housework like sweeping and mopping can also help get your daily steps in. Add strengthening exercises to your home routine using items that you already have as weights, EXPERIENCE. The Most Powerful Medicine.

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14 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com like canned foods, water bottles, rice bags, or bottles of soap. You can even do these exercises while watching TV! If you’re feeling “stir-crazy”, look into joining a local gym - many of- fer classes for older adults and some may even have a senior discount. Finding your niche may mean trying a few different classes, like yoga, chair aerobics, line dancing, or water aero- bics, until you find one that suits you. Keeping a healthy diet during the winter is equally as im- portant as physical activity. A nutritious eating plan may even help with our immunity during these harsh months. While there’s no nutritional “fix” or regimen that has been proven to cure a cold or flu, there are foods that help keep our bodies healthy to give us the best chance of fighting off winter ail- ments. Aim to eat nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables daily to nourish your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs. Foods rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C, like cabbage, citrus fruits, broccoli, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and spinach can help nourish our immune systems for the long, wintery road ahead. Foods rich in zinc, like fish, milk, eggs, oysters, poultry, grains, and cereal, may also help strengthen our im- mune systems. Vitamin D is another nutrient to keep in mind during colder months. Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin,” as most of us get at least a portion of our vitamin D from the sun. Food sources of vitamin D become a little more important during the winter, since we typically spend more time indoors. Foods that contain vitamin D include milk, yogurt, orange juice, fish, fortified cereals, pork, mushrooms, and eggs. Try eating some of these foods during the winter if you find you are spending much of your time indoors. Winter is an important time to stay mindful of our health. MACULAR DEGENERATION Eating nutrient-rich foods and maintaining a physical activity routine are some ways to help stay strong and healthy during this chilly season. Before starting a new diet plan or exercise Imagine A Pair Of Glasses regimen, be sure to talk to your doctor to That Can Help You See Better! make sure it is right for you. Stay warm, stay well, and have a very happy holiday season! Ever look through a pair of field glasses or binoculars? Things look bigger and closer, and easier to see. Dr. Mona Abigail McAlister is a Registered Dietician and Douglas is using miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to nutrition agent with LSU AgCenter for Caddo help people who have decreased vision, to see better. & Bossier Parishes. Her focus is adult nutrition In many cases, special telescopic glasses can be McAlister education. Contact her at [email protected]. prescribed to enhance visual performance. She can often help people read, watch TV, see the computer and sometimes drive. Have you made Telescopic glasses cost between $1900-$2600. It is a prearrangements for your small price to pay for the hours of enjoyment with better family, or do you still have vision and more independence. that to do? For more information and a Leaving these decisions to your children on the worst day of FREE telephone interview call: their lives is a terrible emotional burden. 1-888-243-2020 Call Today To Receive a FREE Family Planning Portfolio Centuries Memorial Hill Crest Memorial 8801 Mansfield 601 Hwy. 80 East Dr. Mona Douglas, Optometrist Shreveport, LA 71108 Haughton, LA 71037 Shreveport . Monroe . Lafayette (318) 686-4334 (318) 949-9415 www.IALVS.com

The Best Of Times December 2019 15 Laws of the Land Lock Them Up! by Lee Aronson o you have any bad habits? If drinking is one of them, don’t tell anyone. That’s because being a habitual drunk is a crime in Louisiana. And I’m not talking about driving while in- toxicatedD or public drunkenness or disturbing the peace. I’m talking about drinking in your own home, quietly, not disturbing anyone. If that’s your habit, there’s a Louisiana law that says you could go to jail. But that’s not all this law says. It also says that if anyone ever asks you, “What are you doing here?” then you better have a good answer. Because it’s illegal to be somewhere unless you can “account for [your] lawful presence.” That’s what happened to Nick Scott. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail for failing to “account for his lawful pur- pose” at the National Car rental counter in the New Orleans airport. If you have the habit of gambling, you may not want to tell the police. That’s because another part of this law makes it illegal to be a habitual gambler or a person “who for the most part maintains themselves by gambling.” If you don’t have a job and aren’t seeking employment or taking employment when it is available to you, you could end up in jail. And you better watch out if you are helping support your adult chil- dren. “Able-bodied persons of the age of majority who obtain their support gratis from persons receiving old age pension or from persons receiving welfare assistance from the state” are committing a crime.

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16 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com If a law is so vague that “men of common intelligence” can only guess at what the law means, then the law is unconstitutional.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “Only in Louisi- ana!” But you would be wrong. According to one Judge who studied the issue, there are and have been similar laws around the country. Does that seem right to you? I’m not asking if these laws are good or bad. I’m asking if they’re legal. The government has a lot of power and can pass all kinds of laws, but the govern- ment can’t pass laws that are unconstitutional. For example, the government couldn’t pass a law that says we have to keep our mouths shut and can’t say anything bad about the govern- ment. That would violate our right to free speech. So, is a law that makes it a crime to be a habitual drunk unconstitutional? You bet it is. One of the many problems the Louisiana Supreme Court had with this part of the law was the fact that it was so vague. Does it apply only to those who are drunk all the time, or does it also apply to “those who down a couple of six packs watching weekend football on television from their favorite armchair?” If a law is so vague that “men of common intelligence” can only guess at what the law means, then the law is unconstitutional. As Ameri- cans, we can’t be locked up for behavior that we could not have intelligently known was forbidden. “Such vagueness is unconstitutional not only because it fails to warn a person that his behavior may be criminal, but also because it compels enforcement officers, as well, to guess at what violates the law, thus either setting the state for arbitrary police action or, if the police and prosecutors evolve their own rational standards of enforcement, constituting an inappropriate delegation of criminal lawmaking authority.” And remember that “What are you doing here?” law? The one that says you have to “account for your lawful presence”? That’s also unconstitutionally vague. That part of the law “fails to give any indication of what is “lawful,” how much of an explanation is needed to add up to an “account,” and whose demand for an “account” may be enforced by criminal penalties. According to one court, “most glaringly, the law contains no useful standards for the policeman or the private citizen to know when an “account” may be demanded.” So, our constitution protects drunks, gamblers, the unemployed, people who can’t explain why they are where they are, and you. Lee Aronson is an attorney in Shreveport, Louisiana, with Gilsoul & Associates, LLC. His practice areas include estate planning Aronson and elder law.

The Best Of Times December 2019 17 Page by Page More Books About Secret Worlds

Richard accidentally slips into “London Below,” a whole world of quirky characters and The Starless Sea strange settings. by Erin Morgenstern

he Starless Sea by Erin the book’s origins, and eventually to a Morgenstern is a dream for masquerade party that launches him book and story lovers. It’s an into the unknown library, the Starless Tinterweaving of stories within books, Sea, below the surface of the world. He within more stories, paired with a meets people there who may not really secret society that be people, and embarks on adventures to exists somewhere save a hidden world. below our own - one Along the way he reads fairy tales that whose purpose it is to may or may not have actually happened, safeguard the world of discovers a tragic love story, is nearly A mysterious murder stories. All evidence of tortured and killed, and finds clues that leads a detective on an that space is protected lead him down secret passageways and investigation that causes him to step into a world and maintained by Rinaudo stepping through time itself. He also faces that lies atop his own. a group of carefully his own life’s story, full of the things that chosen individuals who have made great the best stories have: love, adventure, sacrifices to be part of that world. But danger, quests, and sacrifice. hints of its existence still escape into the The Starless Sea is a weird and beautiful real world in the form of painted doors, novel. It’s the stuff that timeless fairy tales keys, and mysterious books. are made of – a tumbling down the rabbit If that sounds strange, well it is. But hole for adults in our contemporary world. it’s strange in the way that Alice in It has unexpected characters with strange Wonderland is. It’s also beautiful, tragic habits and descriptions of places that defy and full of adventure. imagination. It’s a dessert of a novel, full of When Zachary discovers a book in decadent writing and lush scenery. his college library, he is intrigued by the Grade: A stories it contains. And then he realizes Jessica Rinaudo is an editor and writer A library spy collects novels that one of the stories the book contains who has fostered a love of reading since from different realities. is about himself, about something that childhood. Originally from Shreveport, she When she goes to retrieve happened in his own childhood. That now lives in Cincinnati with her husband a book, its been stolen and discovery leads to his obsession about and four children. she must seek it.

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The Best Of Times December 2019 19 Tinseltown Talks A Lassie Christmas with Jon Provost

By Nick Thomas uring the seven years Jon Provost starred as little Timmy Martin in the CBS TV series “Lassie” from 1957 to 1964, several end-of-year Christmas episodesD aired. Most still stand out in Provost’s mind for one reason. “The crazy thing is we would be filming a Christmas epi- sode during summer in Southern California where it was 90 degrees,” said Provost from his home north of San Francisco. “We were all bundled up like it was 30 degrees and just dying from the heat. But of course, you kept acting and did what the females portrayed in the series. had to be done for the episode.” Then there’s the running joke of Timmy falling down a In the 1961 episode “Yochim's Christmas” where Timmy, well and being rescued by Lassie. It remains one of those Lassie, and a friend rescue a man trapped under an over- Hollywood legends that just doesn’t seem to die, even after turned sleigh, there was plenty of ‘snow’ used for the scene. Provost penned his 2009 memoir with its tongue-in-cheek “It was fake, of course” explained Provost. “For snow on the title “Timmy's in the Well: The Jon Provost Story” disproving ground, a machine almost like a fire truck was used to spray the myth that his character ever disappeared down a well (see soap suds all over the hillside. We would have to shoot scenes www.jonprovost.com). before the suds turned back to liquid. Knowing that, if you “When I wrote my autobiography with my wife Laurie, go back and look at the episode again, you'll notice it’s not I looked through the synopsis of all 249 half-hour episode really behaving like real snow.” scripts and there was no mention of Timmy ever falling into A different technique was employed for scenes depict- a well,” he said, adding its origin remains a mystery. “But that ing snowing. “They would use little shreds of white plastic one will follow me forever!” dropped from above that would appear like snowflakes com- Although it’s been six decades since the series first aired in ing down or landing on our clothes. That was the magic of 1954, reruns of the adventures of Lassie and Timmy still air Hollywood before computer-generated images.” in dozens of countries, including the U.S. on cable. As for A frequent guest at autograph shows and classic film/TV the Christmas episodes, stories typically tugged on viewers’ events, Provost says he still gets asked the same questions heartstrings such as “The Christmas Story” from 1960 where about “Lassie.” Timmy helped a homeless family. “People have the perception that we had three or four dogs “People tell me all the time about on the set at the same time to do different things, growing up with ‘Lassie’ and the warm but that was not the case. Rudd feeling they still have about the show,” Weatherwax, Lassie’s owner says Provost. “The stories had morals and trainer, would only and values attached to all the allow one real Lassie episodes which are lack- on the set at a time, ing in today’s television. I although Lassie did think that's the reason it have a double that has retained its appeal.” was used for long Nick Thomas teaches at shots like run- Auburn University ning, climbing, or at Montgom- swimming.” ery, Ala., and Provost worked has written with three differ- features, ent Lassies during columns, and his time on the interviews for show and all were over 750 magazines males rather than and newspapers. Highland Place Rehab & Nursing Center Home of Transitions Rehab th Post Acute Rehabilitation Celebrating our 39 anniversary! & Skilled Nursing Thank you Shreveport and Bossier City! REPAIRS  Remodeling 24 HOUR Emergency Service  New Construction  Water Heaters 318-671-1820  High Velocity Water Jetting  Sewer & Drain Service  Dishwashers & Disposals Installed

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The Best Of Times December 2019 21 The snow-capped peak of majestic Mt. Hood soars to over 11,200 feet and offers the longest ski season in North America.

Varied Landscapes, Unique History, Beautiful Art, And A Laissez-Faire Lifestyle By Victor Blockregon t doesn t take long for visitors to regon: to admire its varied landscapes I ’ O , intriguing chapters of history and reputation as a cornucopia of tasty fruits, vegetables and outstanding wine. At the same time, Oregon is as much a lifestyle as a destination. Laid-back and laissez-faire were among words that crossed my mind shortly after I arrived. “We’re very accepting of various lifestyles,” a thirty-something woman told me. “A lot of eccentric characters live here,” reported an over-50-year-old man whose gray hair was twisted into a pony tail. The diversity that characterizes Oregon’s populace translates to its landscapes. They range from rugged ocean coastline to dense forests, from glaciers to desert, from grassy prairies to volcanoes. That variety provides a wide choice of things to see and do. Some people visit wineries that offer samples of their products, which are advancing in the world of fine wines. Others delve into history. The Lewis and Clark Expedition which traveled through the Oregon Territory (1804-1806) was followed by a wave of farmers, hunters and other settlers. As word spread about the area’s inviting characteristics, a growing num- ber of people took what became known as the Oregon Trail, accepting the daunting challenges it presented. The route, which ran over 2,000 miles from its start in Missouri, was the most heavily used trail in the westward expansion. Visitors today may follow sections of that trail, and others, which provide an immersion in various aspects of the local lore. For example, the Hood River County Fruit Loop leads to farm stands, berry farms and wineries. The Mt. Hood Territory Heritage Trail includes Farm stands, stops at the Museum of the Oregon Territory and berry farms the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. The and Mount Hood and Columbia River Gorge tour com- wineries can bines dramatic views of the canyon with plummeting be visited while waterfalls and stunning mountainous terrain. on the For those who prefer walking, a stroll through the Hood River town of Canby (population about 16,000) traces its County history from serving as a stop along the Oregon Trail Fruit Loop to a logging community. In an area of mountainous terrain, the snow-capped peak warehouses, light industry and railroad yards to a collection of of majestic Mt. Hood, which soars to over 11,200 feet, reigns art galleries, specialty stores and upscale residences. supreme. That dormant volcano offers the longest ski season in Strolling the streets also helps visitors understand the North America, including runs on 12 glaciers and snow fields. attitude and atmosphere that are unique to the city and its During the rest of the year dense wilderness, fields of wild- residents, and how it continues to cling to much of its flowers and Alpine lakes in the million-plus acre Mt. Hood small-town charm. National Forest attract hikers, campers, Another inviting attraction is the fishermen and sightseers, along with ex- city’s collection of parks and gardens. perienced mountain climbers. Humans Hikers find wilderness in Forest Park, share the woodlands with black bears, which is crisscrossed by 30 miles of elk, mule deer and an occasional cougar. trails. Council Crest Park sits on a A number of Oregon’s cities and 1,073-foot high hill which offers towns have collections of outdoor art dramatic views over the city. Mount that compete with Mother Nature. Tabor Park occupies the only extinct Among works along art trails in Tuala- volcano within city limits in the conti- tin (pronounced Twah-luh-ton) are a nental United States. 20-foot tall metal statue which repre- Against the multi-hued shades of sents the town’s history and another that green provided by parks, gardens depicts a flock of bronze geese. add dramatic splashes of color. The The Gallery Without Walls in Lake sprawling International Rose Test Gar- Oswego includes both permanent and den, which contains 400 varieties of loan pieces. Hillsboro and Forest Grove roses, is a major reason why Portland are among communities that host is known as the City of Roses. The monthly art walks when shops extend Lan Su Chinese Garden is an oasis of their open hours and local artists show- winding paths, reflecting ponds and a case their work. graceful tea house. Art also enhances outdoor spaces Lovely gardens, towering moun- throughout Portland, Oregon’s largest city. tains and forested fields are among A collection of statues around town ranges attractions that beckon people to visit from the Greek god Orpheus to Abraham Portland, and Oregon. Nearly two Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. centuries ago hardy pioneers braved Visiting Portland’s neighborhoods is extreme hardships to seek a better life a good way to experience what the city in what today is the state. The trip has to offer. The Alberta Arts District now is much less strenuous but the is home to quirky galleries. Houses in rewards can be just as satisfying. the Old Town district, where the city was born in 1843, display ornate cast- For information about visiting iron scrollwork and filigree along with Oregon call (800) 547-7842 or human and animal figures. The Pearl There are many opportunities to experience art log onto traveloregon.com. District has evolved from a setting for and nature throughout Oregon.

The Best Of Times December 2019 23 Inside the restored rock chapel. (courtesy of the Diocese of Shreveport). Below: the chapel before its restoration.

24 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com Heavenly Peace Carmel Community Faithfully Tends a Sacred Refuge

by Kathleen Ward

n 1886, a small group of European Catholic Carmelites; the Rambin and Gloster chapels are monks set out from Texas to Louisiana, united gone. As the years passed, the abandoned chapel in their charge to build a monastery and school deteriorated from vandalism, time and neglect. Ito help a rural community of landowners, farmers Vance Shaver, 85, frequently visited the old and former slaves still struggling two decades after chapel with his future wife of 55 years, Lajuana, the Civil War. who died last year. The Shavers served 36 years The young monks embraced the Carmelite as volunteer caretakers, a task he now shares with philosophy of prayer, community and service. Led Mary Laffitte, 74, and Sandra Prudhomme, 67. by German priest Anastasius Peters, they selected “Back when we were courting,” said Shaver, “my a fertile remote property near Bayou Pierre, east of wife and I carved our names on that tree. It has Mansfield. The missionaries had little knowledge of now grown so high you can’t see it anymore. They the area and few resources, but the early years were had just found it when we were teenagers (in the productive and promising. They built the monastery, renovated a home for nuns, opened a post office and Parts of the walls had 50 or school, and erected a secluded chapel they more years of initials carved called “The Riches of Mary” for their private worship. Eventually, there were 31 priests into them and other parts and nuns with 60 students, and the citizens of Bayou Pierre renamed their community were worn away by weather. Carmel. Within a few years, many of the Carmelites had 1950s). It was all grown over,” he said. “The old died from yellow fever, malaria, and the harsh folks knew it was there,” said Laffitte. conditions of their hardscrabble life. A school The volunteer caretakers now attend St. Joseph for blacks led to confrontations with the white Catholic Church in Mansfield, but are former community and two monks were attacked by a members of Immaculate Conception Catholic white man with a pistol. Church, which sits beside the road leading to the Depleted and discouraged, Father Peters returned Rock Chapel and is the site of one of the oldest to Texas. Later a fire destroyed the monastery. local cemeteries. “All my family, our forefathers, are Dreams destroyed, the Carmelites abandoned their buried there,” said Prudhomme. mission. Only one thing remained as a tribute to Another small graveyard lines the path that their utopian vision, the small chapel on a hill. leads up to the chapel. Three markers on the Built in 1891 in the Gothic style from local right side are inscribed with the names Brother rocks and mud mortar, with a roof of wood Gregory Kuaul, Father John Scherer and Frater shingles, it was one of three chapels built by the Avertanus Schweitzer. All three died within two

The Best Of Times December 2019 25 years of completing the chapel. The three many minor repairs. With Manning’s help, unmarked graves on the left side are the Diocese of Shreveport is planning believed to be those of Carmelite nuns. another renovation in the near future, said Father William Kwaaitaal, a Dutch Randy Tiller, Chancellor. priest at St. Joseph’s, discovered the chapel “We are interested in purchasing in 1959 and led the fundraising and materials and allowing Ms. Manning to do restoration efforts. He selected local artist the painting in the comforts of her home Eugenia Manning to restore the elaborate and then have someone install them in frescos inside the chapel, which were the chapel or an accomplished artisan to originally painted by French priests from Artist Eugenia Manning repaint directly on the walls from patterns New Orleans. established by Ms. Manning in the last “Father Kwaaitaal at once saw it as renovation,” said Tiller. “The diocese is the chapel it is today,” said Manning, 96. “My first view of very much aware of the rich historical and religious legacy the painted interior was about 100 years after it had been of the Carmel Chapel and is committed to maintaining the finished. Some parts of the ceiling covered the floor in lumps chapel.” of rotting cloth, the designs visible, but no longer vivid in Down the winding dirt road through hardwood forest, color. Parts of the walls had 50 or more years of initials carved the Rock Chapel remains a sacred space for reflection, into them and other parts were worn away by weather.” meditation and spiritual renewal. In 2018, the Rock Chapel In preparing for the repainting of the frescos, Manning was named one of the South’s five most beautiful chapels researched the chapel’s history and design. Someone from the in Southern Living. The September 2019 guestbook was community came forward with a painting of the cross and signed by visitors from around the country and as far away as scroll behind the altar; another with parts of the ceiling that Nairobi, Germany and Slovakia. had fallen. “When you visit the Rock Chapel, you are seeing the “Eventually it all came together,” said Manning. “By the labor of the early monks who carried the rocks to build time I was ready to lay out the drawings on the wall, the the chapel; the talents of the French artists who painted whole interior had been painted white. I stood before my new the interior; and the long line of monks who traveled at blank slate and wondered what I had taken on for myself. midnight from the main buildings of the monastery, holding I was left alone in the woods, with an occasional visit by a candles and chanting the Divine Office, making their way wandering cow or two who would poke their heads through up the steep banks of Bayou Loup,” said Manning. the doorway to inspect my progress.” “It’s just a little piece of heaven,” said Laffitte. “If you She recreated the frescos in the renovated interior using question the existence of God, just go and spend a little time stencils she created, enamel house paint and oils. Shades on that hill.” of turquoise, gold, greens and browns make up the floral ______patterns, ribbons, grapes, crosses and crowns on the walls and If the chapel is locked, call the phone number on a post by ceilings. the main road. To make donations for the upkeep of the chapel, Since the 1961 rededication, the chapel has undergone contact the Diocese of Shreveport at (318) 868-4441.

Manning restored the elaborate frescos inside the chapel, which were originally painted by French priests from New Orleans.

26 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com The Best Of Times December 2019 27 Questions to Ask When PRESCRIBED A NEW MEDICATION

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28 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com Avoid Nursing Home Costs Without Buying Insurance 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm on JAN 16th – Thursday Afternoon Broadmoor Branch Library in Shreveport 1212 Captain Shreve Drive - Main Meeting Room Think it’s too late? We routinely help families already paying thousands every month for someone in a nursing home to save 65-100% of their estate Come and Learn: ➢ Ways to avoid paying $5,500 to $6,500 each month for a nursing home stay that could go on for years ➢ Ways to avoid losing your savings and even your home ➢ Ways a spouse can often draw up to $3,160 per month of a nursing home patient’s income or keep much more ➢ Ways to protect small or even very substantial estates Estate Rescue 2020 Rescue Estate

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The Best Of Times December 2019 29 Do you recognize any of the people or events in these photographs? The Best of Times has partnered with Archives and Special Collections of the LSU Shreveport Library to identify individuals and events in their collections. Please email Tina at [email protected] or Laura at [email protected] if you have any memory or comments about these images.

(left) Two men tending bar at Don Theatre Christmas Party, December 1948. (below) Christmas group at Earhart Novelty shop, December 1955.

(below) Flieman's Paint Store Christmas Party, Dec. 1953. All photos are from the J. Frank McAneny collection.

30 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com THE SHREVEPORT LITTLE THEATRE 98th SEASON 2019-2020 Shreveport Little Theatre... American Theatre at its best!

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The Best Of Times December 2019 31 SHREVEPORT Shreveport SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Now MICHAEL BUTTERMAN, Then MUSIC DIRECTOR & Photos blended and used with permission by Mike and Mark Mangham of WILLIS-KNIGHTON MASTERWORKS SERIES Twin Blends Photography. Vintage photos courtesy of LSUS Library, Archives and Special Collections. For more photos visit Holiday Pops www.facebook.com/twinblendsphotography. with Hugh Panaro & Sarah Jane McMahon Saturday, December 21 7:30 PM RiverView Theater Michael Butterman, conductor Broadway star Hugh Panaro from Portals to the Past Broadway’s Phantom of the (Above) Grand Avenue in the 1920's. This view is looking down Grand Ave (now Elvis Presley Blvd). Notice the streetcar tracks in the distance. Opera, teams up with (Below) Texas Street in the 1920's. Here's a view looking east on Texas Street Louisiana favorite, toward the Texas Street Bridge. You can see the M. Levy Department store (now Sarah Jane McMahon, the Petroleum Tower) on the left. for a lively evening of (Vintage photos from the Grabill Collection) holiday magic.

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The Best Of Times December 2019 33 FAMILY FEATURES he holiday season is a perfect opportunity to gather with friends and family, and few things bring people together like an elegant, seasonal meal. Creating a crowd-pleasing holiday centerpiece starts with choosing a flavorful, Ttender cut of meat. Find more recipes and tips to create a memorable holiday dinner at OmahaSteaks.com. Whiskey Marinated Holiday Roast Yield: 4-6 servings To make chateaubriand: Let roast rest 30-45 leave uncovered in refrigera- Marinade: Place roast in bag and minutes. tor overnight. When ready • 4 ounces water marinate in refrigerator 30 Broil on high 2 inches from to cook, heat oven to 225° F. • 2 ounces whiskey minutes. broiler, 4 minutes on one side Place roast on elevated rack in • ¼ teaspoon baking soda Remove roast from mari- then flip and broil 2 minutes roasting pan. Roast: nade. Discard marinade. on other side, or until brown Roast 3 hours and 15 • 2 pound chateau- Season roast with rub 12-18 crust uniformly covers roast. minutes, or until roast reaches briand or 4 pound hours before cooking and To make bone-in frenched internal temperature between bone-in frenched leave uncovered in refrigera- prime rib roast: 120-125° F. prime rib roast, thawed tor overnight. When ready Place roast in bag and Let roast rest 30-45 completely to cook, heat oven to 225° F. marinate in refrigerator 45 minutes. • 1 package Steak Rub Place roast on elevated rack in minutes. Broil on high 2 inches from To make marinade: roasting pan. Remove roast from mari- broiler, 4 minutes on one side In large, re-sealable bag, Roast 2 hours, or until roast nade. Discard marinade. then flip and broil 2 minutes mix water, whiskey and reaches internal temperature Season roast with rub 12-18 on other side, or until brown baking soda. between 120-125° F. hours before cooking and crust uniformly covers roast.

34 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com Red Pepper Cranberry Sauce Questions About Your Medicare? Did you know you may be eligible for Additional Benefits? Yield: 2 cups

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The Best Of Times December 2019 37 Miracle on 34st Street • SLT SAVE the

CLASS tion fee, which covers the l Master Gardener Class cost of training manuals, LSU AgCenter is accepting applications publications and sup- for the next NWLA Master Gardeners plies. Registration dead- class, scheduled for January through line is December 7. Call 318-698-0010, org for more info or to learn which March. Master Gardeners are the vol- to request an application, or download band is playing on a particular date. unteer arm of the LSU AgCenter. They one at https://nwlamg.weebly.com/ • Coffee and Conversation – Every are trained in horticulture in exchange forms.html (How do I apply to become Friday at 10:30 a.m. Speaker and topics for 40 hours of volunteer service, shar- a Master Gardener?) can be found at www.bossiercoa.org. ing what they have learned with other gardeners. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thurs- CONCERT l Caddo Council on Aging day for 10 weeks, starting January 23. l Holiday Pops Randle T. Moore Center, 3101 Fairfield Attendance at all classes is required for Saturday, December 21 at 7:30 PM Avenue, Shreveport. 9:30 a.m. Coffee certification. There is a $175 registra- at Riverview Theatre, 600 Clyde Fant and cookies; 10 a.m. program. FREE. Parkway, Shreveport. Presented by Call 676.7900 for more information.

Red River Express • Dec 1 - Dec. 22 Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. • Fridays, December 6, 13, 20. Broadway star Hugh Panaro from 10 Senior Tech Talk. Introduction to Broadway's Phantonm of the Opera, Laptops, tablets and smart phones and teams up with Louisiana favorite Sarah other tech tips Jane McMahon, for a lively evening • Thursday, December 5. 10 a.m. of holiday magic. Tickets are $25 - “History & Identification of Glass $69. Call 318-227-TUNE (8863) or Bottles”, Jameel Damlouji shreveportsymphony.com. • Thursday, December 12. 10 a.m. “Christmas Stories & Soup” COUNCILS ON AGING • Thursday, December 19. 10 a.m. l Bossier Council on Aging 706 “Brass Trio”, Shreveport Symphony. Bearkat Drive, Bossier City • Weekly Dances - Every Thursday EVENTS evening from 7 to 9:30. $6/person. Call l 36th Annual Christmas in Roseland 318-741-8302 or visit www.bossiercoa. A fundraiser for the American Rose

DECEMBER 31 ◆ FREE Cash & JackPlay Drawings ◆ FREE Live Entertainment by Dusty Rose Band ◆ FREE Party Favors ◆ FREE Champagne Toast at Midnight

Must be 21 or older. I I-20, Exit 20A I 1-318-678-7777 I 1-866-552-9629 I www.diamondjacks.com

GAMBLING MustPROBLEM? be 21 or older. See Rewards Club. CALL 1-877-770-7867

38 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com Center. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: at 820 Clyde Fant Parkway in

November 29 - December 15 from 5:30 downtown Shreveport, will debut a Christms in Roseland • Through Dec. 23 to 10 p.m. Last car admitted at 9:30 new, winter-themed exhibit. Sno-Port p.m. Encore Nights will be December will transform the entire first floor of 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 from 5:30 Sci-Port Discovery Center, and will to 10 p.m. The American Rose Center include interactive exhibitions and is located just off I-20, Exit 5, 8877 activities including a blizzard tunnel, Jefferson Paige Road, Shreveport. $5 per “Make-a-Flake,” ice fishing, a chair person or $20 per carload. Ages 2 and lift ride, “Snowball Castle,” igloo- younger are free. Purchase tickets at the building, “Snow Globe Discovery,” and gate with cash. Credit cards are accepted a virtual reality-enhanced experience in the giftshop. For more info please see: called the “Red River Rocket Sled.” www.christmasinroseland.org or contact Open on Nov. 30 and running through Jon Corkern at ExecutiveDirector@rose. Jan. 30. $5 for Sci-Port members and org or by phone at 318-938-5402. children ages 12 and younger, $12 for adults, and free for children ages 1 and l Red River Express Cruise younger. Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., ‘Tis the season to book your tickets Thursdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m.-8 for the Red River Express Cruise to p.m., Sundays, 12-5 p.m., and closed the North Pole, part of Shreveport Mondays and Tuesdays. Visit www.sci- $30. For tickets call 318-221- Aquarium’s Christmas experience. The port.org or call 318-424-3466. 0712, 888-414-BOWL, or visit cruise will depart Tuesday - Sunday walkonsindependencebowl.com. through December 22. Departure is l Walk-On's Independence Bowl from the Red River boat launch next to December 26, with kickoff scheduled MEETING the aquarium in downtown Shreveport for 3:00 p.m. at Independence l North Lousiana Woodcarvers Inc at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Once aboard, enjoy Stadium. Tickets are $50, $45, Monthly Meeting, 630 Barksdale Blvd. tasty treats, sing Christmas carols and listen to stories while making the short boat journey around the bend to the “North Pole”. Once docked, Santa will board and give each child a special first gift of Christmas – a silver sleigh "Believe" bell. $25 Tues - Thurs; $30 Fri - Sun. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www. shreveportaquarium.com. l Sno-Port: The Science and Wonders of Snowflakes Sci-Port Discovery Center, located $16.99 Christmas Day Buffet DECEMBER 25 10:30AM-3PM & 4:30PM-9PM Featuring all-you-can-eat holiday favorites!

Price with Rewards Club Card. See Rewards Club for details. I I-20, Exit 20A I 1-318-678-7777 I 1-866-552-9629 I www.diamondjacks.com

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-877-770-7867

The Best Of Times December 2019 39 SAVE the A Christmas Carol • November 6

Bossier City in the Annex. January 16 at 5:30pm. Open carving. Public is invited. For more information call 3180746-8483. l Jane Austen Society of North America: Ark-La-Tex Chapter Do you love the works of Jane Austen? If so attend an exploratory meeting to establish the Jane Austen Society of visit http://jasna.org/. and beloved music of the season with North America: Ark-La-Tex chapter a timeless message. A Christmas Carol on Thursday, December 12 at 5:30 THEATRE features stunning sets, puppetry, song, p.m. in the Hamilton/South Caddo l A Christmas Carol dance, and humor. $55, $45, $35, $25. branch of the Shreve Memorial Library Thursday, December 5 at 7 PM. Strand For tickets call 318-226-8555 or visit conference room at 2111 Bert Kouns Theatre, 619 Louisiana, Shreveport. thestrandtheatre.com. Industrial Loop, Shreveport. Email Celebrate the true Spirit of Christmas [email protected] with this perfect holiday event. This l Miracle on 34th Street with questions and to RSVP. For new production of Charles Dickens’ December 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 at general information about the Society, classic pairs haunting special effects 7:30 p.m.; December 15 and 22 at 2:00. Shreveport Theatre, 812 Margaret Place, Shreveport. Single mother, Doris Walker, doesn't want her six-year- old Susan's head filled with romantic notions. Their neighbor, Fred, tries to woo Doris by taking Susan to see Santa Claus at Macy's, where Doris works. Doris is not impressed, but when it turns out that Macy's Santa may, in fact, be the real Kris Kringle, a wave of love spreads across NYC that melts even the most cynical hearts. Tickets are $25. Call (318) 424-4439 or email [email protected]

WORKSHOP l Estate Rescue Thursday, January 16, 2 – 4 p.m. Broadmoor Branch Library, 1212 Captain Shreve Dr, Main meeting room, Shreveport. Presented by SAFE Planning, Inc. Learn ways to protect your estate from nursing home costs without buying insurance. FREE and open to the public. Reserve your seat by calling 318-869-3133 or visit safeplanningseminars.net/event.

40 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com Nexus Holidays presents

13 days/11 nights June 25 to July 7, 2020*

12 day cruise on the Volga River on the recently refurbished 4.5 Star “Kronshtadt”.

Cruise ports: Moscow, Uglich, Yaroslavl, Goritsy, Kizhi, Mandrougui, and St. Petersburg. Many guided excursions are included. Price includes: roundtrip economy To make your reservations: Call Nexus Holidays airfare from Shreveport (SHV)*, at (240) 328-8483 or airport and port taxes, transfers and email [email protected] luggage handling, and all meals on on or before February 25, 2020. the cruise ship. Mention tour code NHFRRC13-BOT Russia Entrance Visa Fee not included. for June 25, 2020 departure. A copy of US Passport is needed by A 50% deposit of the tour cost is required at March 1, 2020 to apply for Russia Visa reservation with the balance due by which has a cost of $390 per person. March 25, 2020. There is a 4% surcharge for credit card payment. Total Cost for the June 25, 2020 tour from Shreveport is $3,399 per person, 932 Hungerford Drive, based upon double occupancy for an Suite #7A outside cabin. (Single traveler Rockville, MD 20850 add $899) *Other departure dates and cities available, but mention tour code NHFRRC13-BOT for a discount.

(301) 917-2222 Fax: 301-917-2240 www.nexusholidays.com

The Best Of Times December 2019 41 Answers from the Experts EXPERTS: If you would like to help your community by answering a question here, call 636-5510 READERS: Send your questions to The Best of Times, Box 19510, Shreveport, LA 71149

I am told once I choose hospice I cannot return to the hospital. If I choose hospice Toni Camp care, am I able to return to the hospital? Regional Hospice Care Group YES, once you select hospice care, your care and options are actually expanded, not 8660 Fern Avenue, St. 145 limited. The hospice team is there to help you manage your healthcare decisions. Call Shreveport, LA 71105 Regional Hospice at 318-524-1046 any day of the week to arrange an informational (318) 524-1046 See our ad on page 13, 48. visit.

I have heard about a couple of supplements that have been advertised on the radio Chris Shelby, MD WK Eye Institute that may help with eye problems. Can they help me? 7607 Youree Dr. This is a very common question. Certain forms of Macular Degeneration can be Shreveport, LA 71105 helped by using high doses of antioxidant vitamins. A daily multivitamin and a healthy (318) 212-3937 diet is usually enough to satisfy the daily requirements. If you have been diagnosed See our ad on page 31. with Macular Degeneration, you can purchase Ocuvite or other eye vitamins at a health food store or drug store. Regardless of your ocular status, it’s always a good idea to take a daily multivitamin.

I have a rotator cuff tear. Do I need surgery? John J. Ferrell, M.D. It depends. Rotator cuff tears are a common source of shoulder pain, which increases Mid South Orthopaedics 7925 Youree Drive; in incidence with advancing age. A person can have a rotator cuff tear without expe- Suite 210 riencing pain. (The incidence varies from a reported 5% to 40%.) 40% of tears will Shreveport, LA 71105 enlarge, and of these, 80% will be symptomatic. 20% of patients remain symptom (318) 424-3400 free for a 5 year period. There is no evidence that delaying surgery to attempt a non- operative treatment protocol adversely affects results. If you have significant weakness and/or a large tear, surgery may be advisable sooner. MRI’s are valuable tests to determine tear anatomy and degree.

What can I expect after having my ducts cleaned? Mike Thomas AC Duct Cleaners You will notice an immediate difference and constantly dusting will be a thing of the 9803 Hastings Court past. Lingering odors will be forever gone. Your families, employees and customers can Shreveport, LA 71118 breathe cleaner, healthier air because the dust, dander and asthma causing endotoxins (318) 218-0770 that result in year-round sinus problems will be removed. See our ad on page 35.

Is engineered hardwood “real hardwood”? Trey McGee Absolutely. Engineered hardwood is constructed with thin layers of high-quality Henson Carpet One plywood with a top layer of hardwood. Engineered hardwoods are much more stable 1609 Jimmie Davis Highway and have a far less chance of expansion or contraction as there are changes in humid- Bossier City, LA 71112 ity or temperature. It can be glued down, nailed, or floating depending on subfloor (318)746-3886 conditions and preferences. When properly installed engineered hardwood and solid hardwood are essentially indistinguishable from one another.

What can I do about the price of my Medicare supplement going up so much each Dewey Burchett Providus Financial Serv. year? 318-572-4662 (call Over time all Medicare supplements get more expensive as you get older. However, or text) if you are relatively healthy, or have been over the past couple of years, there is a good Dburchett.providus- chance you would be eligible to enroll in the exact same coverage perhaps with another [email protected] See our ad on page 36. company, at sometimes half the cost. Remember, a Plan F or Plan G has the same ex- act coverage under another company as the coverage you have now...the only difference is the premium you pay.

42 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com American Legion Celebration parting The 100th anniversary celebration of the American Le- Share your photos with us. hots gion honoring veterans and in memorial was held Email to [email protected] on Saturday, Nov. 2 on Cross Lake. Southern Hills Business Association Expo Southern Hills Business Association hosted an Expo and Taste on October 29 at Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport with many exhibitors providing information about their products and services.

(Standing) Commander John R Cunningham, Army Reserve retired; Grand Commander of the Grand Encampment of Louisiana, Samuel Owens, Air Force retired; Eminent Commander Joseph A. Giroir III; Jennifer Kimball and Pam Hendrix (Sitting) past South Central Department Commander of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar United States American Howard Entwistle, retired Air Force

Gary Calligas congratulates Ernest Captain General David Maxey, Eminent Commander John R Wilson, winner of THE BEST OF Cunningham United States Army Reserve retired, and TIMES contest Beverly Sater and Chuck Stripling Generalissimo Nicholas Goeder answers

(from page 36 & 37) PUZZLE

The Best Of Times December 2019 43 Life Savers Dinner Feist-Weiller Cancer Center hosted its 22nd annual Life Savers Dinner and Fundraising Event on November 2 at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City. This casual event was held in remembrance of Anne Higdon and themed “Louisiana Saturday Night”.

Dr. Glenn Mills checks his bidding on the auction items at the event

Dr. Raghu and Dr. Cherie-Ann Nathan, Dr. Paige Bundrick, and Dr. James Cotelingam

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26 | 3 PM INDIVIDUAL TICKETS GROUP TICKETS Endzone Bench $30 50% OFF! Purchase 20-or-more Endzone $45 Leesa and Mike Rosenzweig Nancy and Steven Walker Sideline Bench Bench seats and receive the Sideline Chairback $50 special rate of $15 per seat! (Available to Sponsors or Qualifying (Must be purchased prior to gameday) Foundation Members) Minimum Purchase: $300 (20 tickets) MILITARY DISCOUNT & DONATION $5 OFF ORIGINAL PRICE! Discount valid only with Military ID. Available for Endzone Bench or Sideline Bench seating only. Help a veteran come to the 2019 Walk-On’s Independence Bowl by donating a ticket to Vet Tix! For info on how to donate a ticket, visit VetTix.org!

WalkOnsIndependenceBowl.com | 318.221.0712 | 888.414.BOWL

FOLLOW US! Sue Wyche and Vickie Franks George and Minou Fritze

44 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com Senior Day Expo Worried about the upcoming move The 10th annual Senior Day Expo hosted by THE BEST OF TIMES and State Fair of Louisiana of an elderly family member? was held at the Hirsch Coliseum on October 24 with thousands in attendance.

Senior Transitions (Above) Jennie Daniel, Services Valarie Johnson, of Louisiana Carlo Smith, and Linda Tillman can ease the move… We offer three personal service packages: (Above) - What We Love to Do Joan Robbins, Package #1 Odessa Schaefer, This is our all-inclusive package which includes Joan Mitchell, packing, moving furniture, unpacking, uploading and furniture, hanging pictures, arranging nick-nacks, John Schaefer setting up the kitchen, setting up the bathroom, hanging clothes, and making the bed. Package #2 - What You Would Love For Us To Do (Above) This is our bundle package which you select one Delman Gardner, or more of the following tasks for us to do for you: Jeanette Kohnhofer, Packing and unpacking, load and unload furniture and Billy Tollison and place them, set up kitchen and bathroom, make were the winners of the bed, hang clothes in the closets. the TBT Survey Contest (Right) B. Thirdgill, Package #3 - Keep it Simple TBoT publisher This is our basic package which includes only Gary Calligas, loading and unloading of furniture and boxed items A. Youngblood, that have been packed by you and your family. D. Evans, and J. Hopkins Call us today! Angela Goodson (318) 272-7115 with TriCity Fun Tours presents the Senior Transitions Services of Louisiana, LLC Grand Door Prize 513 Dresden Court, Shreveport, LA 71115 of a trip to Branson www.srtransitionsoflouisiana.com to the winners, Deborah Scates "We provide both out-of-town moves and Mildred Little and in-town moves!" Call us today for an appointment to visit with you regarding our personal service packages to make your transition much easier and more comfortable for you and your family members. Since 2007, we have been assisting seniors and their family members transition through their golden years. We welcome the opportunity to help you.

The Best Of Times December 2019 45 Saints vs Arizona Cardinals Tailgating Party AARP Louisiana hosted a Tailgating Party to watch the Saints vs Arizona Cardinals at Orlandeaux’s Café on October 27.

Bobby Savoie, Charlotte Whittaker, Gary Whittaker, Verna Murray, Daimen Chapman, Dottie Bell, and Troy Broussard, and Urina Holt (standing in front) Charlotte Whittaker

Byrd’s Hall of Fame Luncheon Byrd High School’s Hall of Fame luncheon was held on October 17 at East Ridge Country Club.

The 2019 honorees pictured with the Byrd Mascot: Dr. Ryan C. Holmes, Dr. Thomas (Mac) Bosley, Mary Joris, Jack the Jacket, Robert A. Crosby. Ann Caulkins, Rebecca Ruffin Leffler representing her father, Thomas Fuller Ruffin

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46 December 2019 www.TheBestOfTimesNEWS.com Got these cards? GET MORE.

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The Best Of Times December 2019 47